Rotary engine



July 7 1942. e. A. DRAUCKER ROTARY ENGINE s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22,1941 J L d 1 fi a F a 9 6 M J! U ww m d a f #1 \(5 1 W G. A. DRAUCKER2,289,106

ROTARY ENGINE July 7, 1942.

' Filed May 22, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 7, 1942, G. A. DRAUCKER2,289,106

RdTARY ENGINE Filed May 22, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 Garfz'eid J1.Frau/aka Patented July 7, 1942 STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to an improved construction of rotary internalcombustion engine, and more particularly to a rotary type engine ofsimple construction, composed of few parts, and which is so assembledthat disassembling of the engine for repair or replacement of parts isgreatly simplified.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide an engine which will belight in weight and which due to the fact that few parts are employed,will produce less friction in operation and thereby provide forincreased operating efficiency.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide an engine having nomain crankshaft and no exhaust valves and in which no cam shafts arerequired.

Still a further aim of the invention is to provide an engine requiringno lubricating system and in which the combustion chambers move througha lubricant after each firing operation and by means of which any burntgases or carbon remaining in the combustion chambers, after thecombustion gases have been exhausted, will be removed by the lubricant.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide an engine which may beemployed as a stationary engine and which is provided with a combinedair and water type cooling system.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide an engine employingonly two valves regardless of the size of the engine or the number ofcombustion chambers with which it is equipped.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide a rotary type enginehaving any desired number of firing chambers all employing a singlespark plug to thereby materially simplify the ignition system of theengine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter becomemore fully apparent from the following description of the drawings,which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the engine with the frontsection of the casing removed,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same taken substantiallyalong the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure l, and showing the frontsection applied,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, partlyin elevation, of the upper portion of the engine,

Figures 4, 5 and 6v are transverse sectional views of the upper portionof the engine taken substantially along the planes indicatedby the lines4-4, 55 and 6--6, respectively, of Figure 3,

Figure 7 is a top plan View of the sealing member for sealing the spacebetween the firing block and rotor,

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the firing block and showing thesealing member applied thereto and illustrated in bottom plan, and

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the planeof the line 99 of Figure 1. 15'

Referring more particularly to the. drawings, wherein like referencecharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views, l0 designates generally a casing or housing of theengine which includes a front section 20 II and a rear section l2. Thesections II and I2 are provided with marginal flanges l3 and M,respectively, which extend toward one another and which are providedwith corresponding outwardly projecting flanged portions I5, which areadapted to be connected at spaced points by nut and bolt fastenings l6for detachably connecting the sections II and. I2 to form' the casing orhousing I 0. The sections l I and [2 are preferably provided with agasket. I! which is disposed between the flanged portions [5 for sealingthe casing I'll. The casing I0 is provided with substantially flat,parallelfront and rear walls l8 and I9, which form parts of the sectionsII and [2, respectively, and the flanged portions I3 and I 4 combine toform a substantially flat bottom 20 and substantially flat sides 2|, thelower portions of which are disposed substantially parallel. The upperportions of the sides 2| are arcuately shaped to form an arcuatelyshaped top portion 22 of the casing l0. The'casing Ill, beneath andadjacent its top portion 22, is provided with brackets 23 which projectoutwardly from the sides 2| and which are adapted to be attached tosuitable supports, not shown, for mounting the engine by its casing ID.

A main driving shaft 24 extends transversely through the casing l0, andis journaled in antifriction bearings 25 which are disposed in alinedbearing housings 26 which project outwardly from the front and rearwalls l8 and [9, respectively. A rotor, designated generally 21, ismounted in the casing or housing It), and is provided with a hub 28which is keyed to the intermediate. portion of the shaft 24. Theperiphery or rim 29 of the rotor 21 is connected to the hub 28 by aplurality of spokes 30, and the width of the hub 28 and periphery 29 isslightly less than the width of the housing l so that the sides of theperiphery 29 and the ends of the hub 28 are spaced from the walls l8 andI9. As best seen in Figure 1, the rotor 21 extends substantially to thesides 2| and the bottom 20, but is spaced a substantial distance fromthe top portion 22 of the casing l8. In the embodiment of the inventionas disclosed, the rim or periphery 29 is provided with four equallyspaced pockets or combustion chambers 3|, which open outwardly of theperiphery 29 and which are elongated circumferentially thereof. Therotor 21 is adapted to revolve in the direction, as indicated by thearrows 32, in Figures 1 and 3, and the pockets or combustion chambers 3|are provided with radially disposed walls 33 at their leading ends,forming the surfaces against which the explosion charges are adapted toimpinge, as will hereinafter become apparent, for driving the rotor 21in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arows 32. Theopposite ends 34, forming the trailing ends of the pockets 3| are curvedoutwardly slightly toward the outer side of the rim 29, for a purposewhich will hereinafter become apparent. As seen in Figure 4, the sidewalls 35, of the pockets 3|, are substantially flat and substantiallyparallel.

As seen in Figure 4, the pockets 3| are offset slightly relatively tothe plane of the center of the rotor 21 toward the side thereof which isadjacent the rear wall l9 and the outer side of the periphery 29 isprovided with an annular toothed portion forming a gear 36 which isdisposed adjacent the opposite side of the rotor 21 and adjacent thefront wall l8, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.Between the gear 36 and the pockets 3| and between the back side of therotor and the pockets 3|, the rim 29 is provided with correspondingannular outwardly opening grooves 31, for a purpose which willhereinafter be described.

' Referring particularly to Figures 1, 3 and 9, the flange I4 isprovided with inwardly projecting supporting brackets 38 which aredisposed above and adjacent the supporting brackets 23 and whichalthough supported entirely by the flange M, as seen in Figure 9, extendfrom the front wall H; to the rear wall l9, or from the front to therear of the interior of the housing H). A firing block or head,designated generally 39, is provided with outwardly projecting lugs 48at its ends which rest on the supporting brackets 38 and which areattached thereto by fastenings 42 for detachably mounting the firingblock 39 in the top portion of the housing l8 and above the upperportion of the rotor 21, as best seen in Figure 1. Shims 43 arepreferably disposed between the supporting brackets 38 and the lugs 40for adjustabl positioning the firing block 39 relatively to the rim 29of the rotor 21. As seen in Figures 1 and 3, the head or firing block 39is bowed longitudinally to conform generally to the curvature of the rim29 and its underside 44 is shaped to fit flush against the outer side ofthe rim 29. As best seen in Figures 2 and 4, the head 39 is oifsetslightly toward the rear wall |9 so that it extends to the rear side ofthe rim 29 and to adjacent the gear 36.

A crankshaft 45 extends transversely through the upper portion of thehousing l0 and is journaled at its ends in bearings 46 formed on theouter sides of the walls l8 and 19. A gear 41 is keyed to the shaft 45and is disposed between the front wall l8 and. the head 39 and. isenmeshed with the gear 36 to cause the shaft 45 to be revolved by therotation of the rotor 21. The gear 41 is provided with propeller blades48 which form the spokes of the gear and the front wall I8, adjacent thegear 41, is provided with openings 49 through which air can be drawninto the upper portion of the housing It] by the blades 48 to becirculated around the firing block 39 and the portion of the rim 29which is in engagement therewith. It will thus be seen that the blades48 function as a fan to provide air cooling means for the engine.

Referring to Figure '1, 59 designates generally a sealing member thelongitudinal edges of which are provided with strip portions 5|. InFigure 7, the upper or inner side of the sealing member 58 is providedwith transverse strip portions 52 which are disposed at the ends of thesealing member and which project upwardly fromplates 53 which aredisposed between the longitudinal strips 5|, adjacent the ends of thesealing member 58. The underside 44 of the head 39 is provided withgrooves 54 for receiving the, upper portions of the strips 5| and thestrips 52 and the face 44 is also recessed, adjacent its ends, as seenat 55, to provide seats for the plates 53, as best seen in Figure 3. Thesealing member 50 is curved to conform to the curvature of the face 44and its strips 5| are substantially wider than the strips 52 so thattheir lower edge portions project outwardly from the under or outer sideof the plates 53, as best seen in Figure 5, for engaging the grooves 31.The portions of the grooves 54 which seat the strips 5| are providedwith undulating springs 56 which urge the sealing member 58 toward theperiphery 29 so that the strips 5| will be held in engagement withportions of the grooves 31 and the end plates 53 will be held infrictional engagement with portions of the periphery of the rotor.

Referring particularly to Figures 3 and 4, the firing block 39 isprovided with a cylinder 51, intermediate of its ends, and which isdisposed transversely thereof. The cylinder 51 opens outwardly of theouter, upper side of the block 39 and at its opposite end the cylinder51 is provided with a restricted opening 58 which opens into the innerface 44, A piston 59 is reciprocably mounted in the cylinder 51 and isprovided with a connecting rod 60 which projects from the outer side ofthe cylinder 51 and which is connected to the crank 6| of the crankshaft45. The connecting rod 68 is connected to the piston 59 by aconventional wrist pin connection 62. As best seen in Figure 4, theblock 39 is provided with a lateral passage 63, the inner end of whichopens into the cylinder 51. The passage 63 alines with an opening 64 inthe rear wall I9 and a gasket 65 is interposed between the rear wall l9and the block 39, the bore of which combines with the opening 64 and thepassage 63 to form a continuous passage from the cylinder 51 through therear wall IS. The inner end of the passage 63 is enlarged to form avalve seat 66 for a valve 61, the head of which is disposed therein andthe stem of which extends outwardly through the opening 64. The outerend of the stem of the valve 61 projects outwardly from the rear wall I9and is provided with an expansion spring 68 for urgingthe valve 61outwardly and to a closed position. The passage 63, the opening 64 andthe gasket 65 combine to formjan intake port for carbureted fuel whichis adapted to be supplied from a carbureter, not shown, in anyconventional manner. Below the intake port, a port 69 is provided whichopens into the restricted end 58 of the cylinder and which opensoutwardly of the rear wall 19 and which is adapted to contain a sparkplug 10.

The upper portion of the restricted end 58 is tapered to form a valveseat 'H for a downwardly opening valve 12 which is provided with aspring l3, which seats in the enlarged lower end of the cylinder 57 fornormally urging the valve 12 upwardly and into a closed position.

Referring to Figure 3, the underside M, between the cylinder 51 and therecess 55 which is adjacent the entrance end of the firing block 39, isprovided with a recess 16 to receive an elongated abutment member 15.The abutment member 75 is elongated and is provided at the end, which isremote to the cylinder 51 with an enlargement it which is arcuatelyshaped in cross section for engaging a similarly shaped recess 77 in oneend of the recess l t for pivotally mounting the abutment member '55.The abutment member 75 is provided at its opposite end with an upwardlyextending wall portion 18, the lower part of which is rearwardlyinclined, and is provided intermediate of its ends with openings 19. Anexpansion coil spring 89 is disposed in the recess 'i l for urging thefree end of the abutment member E5 outwardly and downwardly relativelyto the recess 14 and the openings 19 are provided for the escape of airfrom the recess M as the abutment member 75 is swung inwardly thereof.

As seen in Figure l, a jacket 83 extends from the exit end of the firingblock and engages against a portion of the periphery of the rotor 21 andis provided with an exhaust pipe 82 which projects therefrom through oneof the sides 2|.

The remaining portions of the firing block or head 39 are made hollow toform a water jacket 83 which surrounds the various parts of the head 39,previously described, and which is provided with an upwardly extendingfilling neck 85 which terminates adjacent an opening 85 in the flangel3. A cap 85 is insertable through the opening 85 and detachablyconnected to the upper end of the neck 84 for closing the neck 83 andfor substantially closing the opening 85. The jacket 83 is adapted to befilled with water for cooling the head 39 and the portion of the rotorwhich is in engagement therewith, incooperation with the air coolingmeans previously described.

As previously stated, the lower portion of the housing or casing I 9 isadapted to contain a lubricating oil. As the rotor 27 is shown providedwith four equally spaced pockets or combustion chambers 3B, the gear 41is made one fourth the diameter of the rotor 2'1 so that gear ll willmake four revolutions to each revolution of the rotor. The gears 36 and41 are so timed that when each of the pockets 3! reach the position ofthe pocket 3i, illustrated in Figure 3, beneath the restricted open end53 of the cylinder 51 and with the leading end 33 of the pocketsubstantially in a line with the portion of the opening which is remoteto the abutment 15, the piston 59 will be in a fully lowered positionand by means of a suitable ignition system, not shown, connected to thespark plug ill a spark will occur at this time to fire the compressedfuel mixture which is in the pocket 3|, shown in Figure 3, and betweenits leading end Wall-33 and the free end 18 of the abutment i5. Asillustrated in Figure 6, the abutment 15 extends entirely across thepocket 3| for separating its leading end from its trailing end and asthe explosion impinging against the face 18 cannot cause any movement ofthe abutment 15 and as the valve 12 is in a closed position the force ofthe explosion impinging against the leading wall 33 will cause the rotorto turn in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow 32.Likewise, it will readily be apparent that the sealing member 50 willprevent any escape of the expanding gases between the outer face of therim 29 and the surface 44 as the pocket in which the explosion isoccurring is arranged between the end plates 53 and the longitudinalstrips 5|. As the rotor is driven in a counterclockwise direction, thetrailing end 34 of the pocket 3! will engage the lower portion of theabutment 15 to swing it upwardly and into the recess 14 where it will beheld by the periphery of the rim 29. As the pocket, shown in Figure 3,passes beyond the exit end of the firing block 39 the exhaust gases willbe released into the jacket 8! and will freely escape through theexhaust pipe 82. The force of the explosion is ample to drive the rotormore than a quarter of a revolution so that the upwardly moving pocket3i, next behind the pocket in which the explosion has just occurred,will move under the firing block 39 and as its leading end 33 passes thefree end of the abutment 15 said abutment will be forced downwardly bythe spring 89 into the pocket. During this rotation of the rotor 27through an arc of 90 degrees the gear 41 will be making one completerevolution, and during the first half of its revolution the piston 59will be drawn upwardly and as the valve 12 is in a closed position andso held by its spring 13, as the piston 59 moves upwardly a vacuum willbe created in the cylinder 51 below the piston to thereby cause thevalve 51 to open inwardly to admit a charge of admixed fuel. Atapproximately the time that the next pocket or combustion chamber 3| inwhich an explosion is to occur, moves into engagement with the exit endof the firing block 39, the piston 59 begins its down or compressionstroke to compress the fuel mixture which was drawn in on its up orintake stroke. The compression in the cylinder 5.! caused by thedown-stroke of the piston 59 will cause the valve 12' to open downwardlybut the periphery of the rim 39 will seal the lower end of therestricted opening 58 to keep the fuel compressed while the piston 59 iscompleting its downstroke and until the leading end 33 of the pocketwhich is approaching the piston 59 has passed under the abutment 15 toallow it to drop to the position, as seen in Figure 3. As the leadingend 33 of the pocket, after passing the abutment 15 moves intocommunication with the opening 58 the charge of the compressed fuel isreleased into the pocket and continues to be compressed by the piston 59moving downwardly until the pocket 31 has reached the position, as seenin Figure 3, at which time the piston 59 will have reached a fullylowered position. At this time the spring 13 will return the valve 12 toa closed position due to the fact that there is no further pressureexerted on the valve 72 by the piston 59, and at the instant that thevalve 12 moves to a closed position the spark plug 10 is energized toexplode the charge within the pocket 3! which is in a firing position torepeat the operation previously described. The valve 12 is provided inorder to prevent the expansion of the charge back into the cylinder 5'!which would otherwise tend to force the piston 59 upwardly. It will beobvious that while the engine is in operation the blades 48 willcirculate air around the firing head 39 and around the portion of therotor which is in engagement therewith.

The main drive shaft 24 which is keyed to and rotated by the rotation ofthe rotor 21 may obviously be connected to any suitable machinery orother parts to be driven by the motor and if desired a plurality of themotors could be attached to a single elon ated driving shaft 24, as forexample where an unusual heavy load was to be driven which would be tooreat for eificient operation of a single motor of a particular size.

It will also be obvious that the rotor 21 could be provided with asingle pocket 3| in which case the diameter of the rotor and the gear 41would be the same or the rotor could be provided with two or threepockets or a number in excess of the four pockets as illustrated, and ineach instance the diameter of the rotor would equal the diameter of thegear 41 multiplied by the number of pockets 3| with which the rotor wasprovided.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously beresorted to as only a preferred embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising a rotor, a driven shaftkeyed to said rotor, said rotor being provided with a pocket openingoutwardly of its periphery, a firing block having an arcuately shapedinner side for engaging a portion of the periphery of the rotor, meansactuated by the rotor for drawing a charge of fuel into the block,compressing the fuel and injecting it into the pocket, means forigniting the charge of fuel in the rotor pocket, an abutment memberconnected to the block and movable into said pocket for forming a fixedabutment for the compressed charge of fuel, a casing formed of sectionsin which said rotor is rotatably mounted, the driven shaft of said rotorextendi through the walls of said casing and being journaled therein,and means for adjustably and detachably mounting said firing block inthe casing for adjustably positioning the firing block relatively to theeriphery of the rotor.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising a rotor, a driven shaftkeyed to said rotor, said rotor being provided with a pocket openingoutwardly of its periphery, a firing block having an arcuately shapedinner side for engaging a portion of the per p ery of the rotor, meansactuated by the rotor for drawing a charge of fuel into the block,compressing the fuel and injecting it into the pocket, means forigniting the charge of fuel in the rotor pocket, an abutment memberconnected to the block and movable into said pocket for forming a fixedabutment for the compressed charge of fuel, a casing in which said rotoris rotatably mounted and in which the driven shaft thereof is journaled,said casing having openings in the upper portion thereof and above thefiring block, and a fan connected to Said first mentioned means anddriven thereby, said fan being disposed adjacent the openings in thecasing for circulating air around the firing block and rotor.

3. An internal combustion engine comprising a rotor, a driven shaftkeyed to said rotor, said rotor being provided with a pocket openingoutwardly of its periphery, a firing block having an arcuately shapedinner side for engagin a portion of the periphery of the rotor, meansactuated by the rotor for drawing a charge of fuel into the block,compressing the fuel and injecting it into the pocket, means forigniting the charge of fuel in the rotor pocket, an abutment memberconnected to the block and movable into said pocket for forming a fixedabutment for the compressed charge of fuel, a casing formed of sectionsin which said rotor is mounted and in which the driven shaft of therotor is journaled, said casing sections being removably connected, andmeans for detachably and adjustably mounting the firing block on one ofsaid sections.

4. An internal combustion engine comprising a rotor, a driven shaftkeyed to said rotor, said rotor being provided with a pocket openingoutwardly of its periphery, a firing block having an arcuately shapedinner side for engaging a portion of the periphery of the rotor, meansactuated by the rotor for drawing a charge of fuel into the block,compressing the fuel and injecting it into the pocket, means forigniting the charge of fuel in the rotor pocket, an abutment memberconnected to the block and movable into said pocket for forming a fixedabutment for the compressed charge of fuel, a casing formed of sectionsin which said rotor is mounted and in which the driven shaft of therotor is journaled, said casing sections being removably connected,means for detachably and adjustably mounting the firing block on one ofsaid sections, and the lower portion of said casing being adapted tocontain oil into which the lower portion of the rotor extends.

5. An internal combustion engine comprising a rotor, a driven shaftkeyed to said rotor, a casing in which the shaft is journaled and inwhich the rotor is mounted to revolve, said rotor havingcircumferentially spaced pockets opening outwardly of its periphery,said pockets being spaced from the sides of the rotor, a firing blockmounted in the casing and having an arcuately shaped inner side forengaging a portion of the periphery of the rotor, means actuated by therotor for drawing a charge of fuel into the firing block and forcompressing the fuel and injecting it into the pockets while the pocketsare in engagement with the block, means fOr igniting the charge of fuel,an abutment member connected to the block and movable into said pocketsfor riphery of the rotor.

GARFIELD A. DRAUCKER.

